Date: Fri, 20 Aug 1993 15:33:01 -0400 (EDT)
From: Larry <[l j k] at [access.digex.net]>
Subject: Congressional Report August 20 1993

Congressional Report
8/20/93
Issue 4

DOLE HITS NEW HAMPSHIRE OVER AUGUST RECESS...

	Senate Minority Leader Bob Dole has spent the last week in New
Hampshire, site of the nation's first presidential primary, appearing on
radio and TV shows, interviewing with some local newspapers and hosting a
number of political receptions.  Dole, who ran for vice-president on
President Ford's 1976 ticket, has seen his presidential ambitions thwarted
twice in the New Hampshire Republican primary (1980 & 1988).  Though many
see Dole as too old to run against Clinton in '96 (he is 70 now), the
Washington Post (8/20) reports that Dole was "telling audiences that he is
"keeping my options open" for 1996."

...BUT CLINTON HOLDS LEAD AGAINST POTENTIAL CHALLENGERS

	A poll by Political Media Research shows Clinton leading potential
challengers by 9-22 points: 

Clinton 	46%
Dole		35%
Undecided	19%

Clinton		52%
Quayle		30%
Undecided	18%

Clinton		46%
Perot		32%
Undecided	22%

Clinton		44%
Kemp		35%
Undecided	21%

The poll also showed that more voters have a more negative feeling towards
Perot (41%) and Quayle (45%) than Clinton (36%) despite the bruising
battle Clinton just went through over the budget. 

Still, the poll showed that Clinton's job performance was rated positively
by only 38% of the respondents and negatively by 62%.  Also, according to
pollster Brad Coker "because the undecideds tend to break against the
incumbent, Clinton's having 44 percent to 46 percent of the vote in a two
way race is not all that impressive." (Washington Times 8/19)

CELESTE AND DALEY TAPPED TO SPEARHEAD KEY LEGISLATIVE INITIATIVES

	Former Ohio Governor Richard Celeste will head up the Democratic
National Committee's campaign to enact Clinton's health care reform
package.  Lawyer-lobbyist William Daley (brother of Chicago Mayor Richard
Daley) will head up a task force to promote the North American Free Trade
Agreement. 

OPENING SHOT IN THE HEALTH CARE REFORM BATTLE

	The Washington Post (8/20) reports that the Healthcare Leadership
Council recently released a study by the consulting firm of Lewin-VHI
estimating the cost of Clinton's health care reform package at $42.7
billion just to cover the uninsured in the country.  The White House
immediately dismissed the study.  Robert Boorstin, health spokesman for
the White House said "The people who paid for this study are the people
who are profiting from the status quo.  No wonder they reach conclusions
that taken together add up to one big scare tactic." According to the
Post, the Healthcare Leadership Council "consists of insurance firms,
small businesses, hospitals and other health-provider groups."

PEROT ATTACKS NAFTA IN TELEVISED APPEARANCE

	Ross Perot continued his campaign against the North American Free
Trade Agreement in a 2 1/2 hour appearance on C-SPAN (8/19).  Perot said
NAFTA would "destroy the American job base" and called arguments that
NAFTA would create jobs "Washington malarkey" .  Perot will also publish a
new book "Save Your Job, Save Our Country -- Why NAFTA Must Be Stopped
Now". 

HOUSE TO QUESTION JUSTICE DEPARTMENT LAWYERS ON ENVIRONMENTAL PROSECUTIONS

	Fourteen lawyers in the Department of Justice's environmental
crimes section will be questioned by the House Energy & Commerce committee
for allegedly undermining environmental prosecutions during the Bush
administration.  Many observers were stunned that the Justice Department
ordered the fourteen prosecutors to submit to the questioning in light of
the long-standing Justice Department policy of protecting its line
prosecutors from political pressure.  Traditionally, all congressional
inquiries have been handled by senior department officials or the
administration's political appointees. 

	The House Energy and Commerce committee, chaired by Congressman
John Dingell (D-MI), was specifically concerned about prosecutions against
PureGro Company Inc., Weyerhaueser Forest Products, Chemical Waste
Management Inc., Thermex Inc., and Hawaiin Weste rn Steel.  Dingell
believes that the prosecutions were not as vigorous or complete as
possible. 

OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST

*   In late June, the House voted 207-202 to end funding for the Selective
Service. If the Senate follows suit after the August recess, the
Selective Service may soon become a thing of the past. (Washington Post
8/17)

*  Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen is closing his Senate campaign
committee, returning the majority of it to his donors.  Other Members of
Congress who became Cabinet members -- Les Aspin, Mike Espy, Leon Panetta
-- are keeping their campaign treasuries alive. (Washington Time 8/20)

* Rep Pat Schroeder (D-CO) was blasted by CBS News as the leader in taking
lobbyist paid travel "junkets".  On average, Representatives took an
average of two or three all expense paid trips per year.  Schroeder took
52.  "These are not luxury trips, they're hard-working trips," Schroeder
said.  CBS reporter Eric Engberg then cut in to say "Some of Schroeder's
hard work was in vacation paradises like Honolulu, L.A., Boca Raton, and
Orlando -- accompanied by her family members." (Washington Times 8/19)

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**                                                           **
**  Remember, Congress is out of session until 9/7, thus no  **
**  voting records until then. It is actually very quiet     **
**  around here right now, so the report may be a little on  **
**  the boring side this week and next.                      **
**                                                           **
**  I did receive a comment from one subscriber who felt     **
**  that the report was slightly biased.  I hope this is not **
**  the case, as I try to be non-partisan.  In any case, I   **
**  would appreciate any comments you have on this.          **
**                                                           **
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